Horses

A horse-drawn carriage with a dark horse standing still, three women in nineteenth century dress, sitting in the carriage, and trees in the background.

The Jewett sisters wrote with affection for and care about their horses. They sought advice from John Tucker on what particular horses needed at a given time. Fancy and Princess are just a few of the horses mentioned. There even seems to have been a family made-up word – pelters – for horses.

Sarah Orne Jewett liked to go for fast rides in the woods as an emotional vent. Her stories are populated with horses of all kinds, old and stiff; young and fast; one putting her head over a heroine’s shoulder in affection.

But Sarah connected especially with her horse Sheila.